Lifesaving device



Sept. 24, 1946.

E. R. HAWKINS LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed May 19, 1944 Ewe/7632???? BY 6% M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1946 NITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE, If v 2,408,166 j LIFESAVINIG -19 E ene li iawkins, Compton, Calif." App ca o 19, 1944, Serial No; 53 ,273

4 Claims. I (01. 11281-1 This invention relates to protective devices and more especially toa respiratory mask article adapted for use when bathing, alsoas a lifesaving article.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple,

practical, and inexpensive article ofthe character described. 7

Another object is to provide a novel or respiratorymask and protective device adapted for use in the .water when bathing.

Another object is to provide an .emergency lifesavin article for use on water.

Still other objects of my invention include providing such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprisesrnovel details of construction and novel combinations, and are rangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the. following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section showing the valve structure also shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of valve actuating member.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show a respiratory mask article comprising a mask element 5 preferably, but not necessarily, formed, of a transparent, plastic material, substantially semicircular in configuration, and having upper and lower curved edge portions 6 and 1, and a pair of side edge portions 8, which edge portions may be provided with a resilient, watersealing edge strip 9, whereby the mask may be fitted across and around the face, head and chin, and along the sides of the 'face or head of the user, to provide a water tight mask for a person. A pair of resilient or adjustable bands may be provided, and secured, as by fasteners II, to the mask and being adapted to extend around the backof the head and neck of the user, as should be clear. A spacing member I 8 connects and holds apart the upper and lower bands Iii. Mask 5 extends outwardly from the face as shown, forming a respiration chamber I 2 to which is connected tube l3 having a tubular passage in com-1 munication with chamber l2 at one end.

The other end of tube I3 is suitably connected to a neck portion M on the upper side of a valve housing IS. The housing [5 is a hollow. box of suitable material, and has a bottom member l6 provided witha central aperture ll. A plurality of channels2'i extend from the inside of the housing l5 to the aperture H. A buoyant valve member I9 is provided and positioned within structure l5 and preferably comprises a ball of cork or other equivalent, material which will float on water. A light spring 20 issecured between a bar 2| suitably secured within neck lfi and the float member I9 in such manner as to retain the float, member l9 way from the inlet tothe tube l3; when there is not enough water in the housing 5 to buoyantly move the valve [9 to a tube-closing position.

It will be noted that (the channels 21 provide projections 28 which support the valve l9 when the housing I5 is free of water. When the valve is resting on the projections 28, air is permitted to move in and out of the housing I5, past the valve l9, through the channels 21.

The operation of the invention should be ap parent from the foregoing description. The mask may be applied to the face as shown in Fig. 1 for protection when a person is in a body of water.

' If the persons head is at or above the surface of the Water, the housing I5 is thereby above the level of the water, due to the length of the tube l3. In this position, the person may breathe freely, since air passes in and out of the housing I 5, past the valve l9, through the channels 21. Of course, there is a direct connection therefrom through the tube l3 to the inside of the mask 5.

If the person goes under water sufficiently for the housing l5 to be submerged, the buoyancy of the valve I9 causes it to close the tube l3 as suggested by the broken lines in Fig. 2. With the tube I3 closed to the ingress of water, the person may breathe the air in the mask 5 and in the tube l3. The period of being submerged is relatively short, and when the person again returns to the surface, the housing I5 is raised above the surface, thus permitting the water in the housing l5 to drain out and permit the escape of foul air and the ingress of fresh air.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified form of valve which comprises a buoyant, semi-spherical valve member 22 pivoted at 23 adjacent the end of tube I3, and the operation of this modification member 22. from the surface of the water permits it to open, for the ingress of fresh air.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a respiratory mask article, a shield adapted to be secured on the face, a tube leading upwardly from the shield having a transverse bar near the end thereof, and a check valve structure for respiration secured at the end of said tube, a buoyant valve in said body adapted to close the tube against the ingress of water when the structure is submerged, and spring means secured to said bar and tending to move the valve away from its tube closing position when the structure is freed of water, the spring means being of such lightness that water in the structure fbuoyantlycloses the valve against the action of the spring means, the structure having in the bottom thereof an aperture for the movement of air in and out of the valve, the wall of said aperture having annularly arranged projections for seating the valve free of the aperture structure around the valve.

2. In a device of the character referred to, a shield adapted to be secured to the face and forming an air chamber, a tube connected to said shield and having a downwardly directed end providing a seat, a valve chamber connected to said end having a removable bottom, said bottom having a central aperture and annularly arranged lugs extending inwardly from the face thereof, a buoyant valve member within said chamber, and

a spring normally to hold said valve against said lugs and free of the aperture, said valve being operable against the tension of said sprin by buoyancy to engage the seat in the end of said tube, and said spring unseating said valve when uninfluenced by water and holding said valve open during inspiration of the wearer.

3. In a device of the character referred to, the combination of: a shield having means for securing same to the face and forming an air chamber, a tube connected to the upper part of said shield and having a downwardly directed portion provided with threads, the end of said tube forming a seat a valve chamber threadedly connected with said tube portion and having a removable bottom, said bottom having a central aperture and h lugs extending radially from the face thereof, a

buoyant" valve member in said chamber, and a yielding means to hold said member against said lugs and free of the aperture in the bottom of said chamber, said valve being operable against said yielding means by its buoyancy to seal the passage in said tube against the flow of water, and said yielding means maintaining the valve member open during inspiration of the wearer.

4. In a device of the character referred to, the combination of: a shield having means for securing same to the face, a tube connected at one end to said shield, a valve chamber associated with the other end of, said tube and having in the bottom thereof a central-apertura'said aperture provided with inwardly directed radial projections, a buoyant valve in and adapted to be guided by the walls of said chamber to a seating position with the end of said tube, and a spring to hold said valve against said projections and free of the aperture in said chamber, said valve being operable against said spring by its buoyancy to seal the end of said tube, and said spring maintaining the valve open for admission of air.

EUGENE R. HAWKINS. 

